Pivotal role for Broich against Juventus

After a crushing defeat to Manchester United last season, Brisbane Roar star Thomas Broich wants redemption in the 2014 A-League All Stars match against Juventus.

All Stars Eugene Galekovic, Thomas Broich and Michael Twaite with Afredo Esteves and some young fans. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER

FOOTBALL

After a crushing defeat to Manchester United last season, Brisbane Roar star Thomas Broich wants redemption in the 2014 A-League All Stars match against Juventus.

The two-time Johnny Warren Medallist is one of five players returning from last season's team who lost 5-1 to the English Premier League club in front of a capacity crowd in Sydney.

He will likely play a central role again when they meet Juventus at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, but this time around the three-time Brisbane grand final hero is hungry to avoid a similar defeat.

"I would like to see us perform a bit better than we did last year," Broich told the Mercury.

"I know, especially from last year's experience how tough it is to form a team in a week.

"This time we spend 10 days in camp and have the friendly before the proper game, so that should help."

Broich has been in Wollongong since last Friday training with the All Stars squad at WIN Stadium.

Having never played with most of the squad or under coach Josep Gombau, he stressed it was vital the playing group all get on the same wave length.

"We need to agree on a playing style," he said.

"You bring in two players from every club and one team has a counter attacking style and another team loves possession based football.

"There is so many different approaches to the game but we are expected to go out there on Sunday and play as a team and all be on the same page."

After starting his preseason with the Brisbane more than four weeks ago, Broich said he felt in good condition ahead of the Roar's title defence and Sunday's match.

The new campaign will be his fifth in Queensland's capital and the 33-year-old doesn't plan on slowing down any time soon.

"I feel pretty good - touch wood. I have been injury free for the majority of my career so I hope that I can play as long as possible," he said. "Especially right now I am loving my football and I am still so passionate about the game.

"It would be a shame if I had to retire but I am not wasting any thoughts in that direction right now.

"I am feeling good and hoping that I can keep it going for another, maybe five years."

Broich has often credited the Australian way of life and A-League competition for helping to reinvigorate his career on and off the paddock.

He has admitted to "losing passion" for the game but after five years in the Sunshine State he's experienced a remarkable change in tune.

"This is actually the best time of my career," Broich said.

Broich was open to suggestions and he could settle down in Australia when he calls time on his career and said coaching was also an option.

"A few years back, that was not an option at all for me, because as I said, I didn't love the game any more.

"Now I feel like I want to pass on my knowledge and help develop the game, so coaching is definitely an option," he said.